Accumulator table for a conveying system

ABSTRACT

A conveying system, including a conveyor and an accumulator table located adjacent the conveyor and sloped downwardly toward the conveyor. When a blockage occurs in the conveyor system, the articles being conveyed accumulate on the inclined table, and when the blockage is cured, the articles will move downwardly across the plate and back onto the conveyor. A vibrating unit can be associated with the inclined accumulator table to vibrate the table and increase the speed of movement of the articles on the table.

United States Patent Constable et al. Mar. 21, 1972 [54] ACCUMULATORTABLE FOR A 3,173,557 3/1965 Eliassen ..2l4/l6 B CONVEYING SYSTEM3,258,105 6/1966 Willsey ...l98/30 3,353,651 11/1967 Witmer ..l98/32[72] Inventors: Charles F. Constable, South Milwaukee;

Robert y, wallwatosa, both 0f Primary ExaminerRichard E. Aegerter [73]Assignee: Jos. Schlitz Brewing Company, Milwau-AnameyuAndmsscealesStarkegz Sawa 57 ABSTRACT [22] Flled: 1969 Aconveying system, including a conveyor and an accumulator [21] Appl.No.: 874,325 table located adjacent the conveyor and sloped downwardlytoward the conveyor. When a blockage occurs in the conveyor system, thearticles being conveyed accumulate on the [52] US. Cl ..l98/45, 198/29,198/106 inclined table, and when the blockage is cured. the articles mInt. t move downwardly across the plate and back onto the con. [58]Field of Se r h l 59, veyor. A vibrating unit can be associated with theinclined ac- 214/16 B cumulator table to vibrate the table and increasethe speed of movement of the articles on the table. [56] ReferencesCited 16 Claims, 7 Drawing Figures UNITED STATES PATENTS s 3 2,380,9107/1945 Newton 193 10 Y Patented March 21, 1972 2 Sheets-Sheet 1KEAQQQEGGQG;

A m ll N W Patented March 21., 1972 2 Sheets-Shoot l ACCUMULATOR TABLEFOR A CONVEYING SYSTEM The invention relates to a conveyor system andmore particularly to an improved accumulator table for a conveyingsystem.

In a high speed conveying system, such as that utilized in the brewingindustry, the cans or bottles are moved through the filling andpackaging machines by a series of conveyors. For example, the cans afterpassing through the filling machine will be successively conveyedthrough a fill-level detector, a six-pack packaging machine and a masterpackaging machine. For efficiency in the overall operation, it isdesired that the filling machine run continuously without interruption.However, due to the fact that the packaging machines are dealing withpaper products, a malfunction or clogging may occasionally occur whichresults in the interruption of the operation of the packaging machine.Therefore, to prevent shutdown of the filling machine during periodswhen the packaging machine may be shut down, an accumulator table isnormally installed in the conveying system. In the event of a stoppageof the packaging machine, the cans or bottles will accumulate on theaccumulator table. After the stoppage is cured, the packaging machinehas the ability to operate at a greater speed than the filling machineso that the cans accumulated on the table will be progressively returnedto the conveying system. With the use of the accumulator table in theconveying system, the filling machine is able to operate continuouslyregardless of periodic or intermittent shutdowns of the packagingmachine.

The present invention is directed to an improved accumulator table to beused in a conveying system. In accordance with the invention, theaccumulator table comprises an inclined or sloping plate which islocated between a pair of generally parallel conveyors which are locatedat different heights or levels. In normal operation, the cans travelover the conveyor of higher elevation and pass over the accumulatortable to the lower level conveyor. If a blockage occurs downstream ofthe accumulator table, the cans or other articles will back up andaccumulate on the inclined plate, and when the blockage is cured, thecans will ride downwardly by gravity over the inclined plate to thelower level conveyor to return the accumulated cans to the conveyingsystem.

A provision is also made to incorporate a vibrating mechanism with theinclined plate so that the plate will vibrate in a direction from theupper conveyor to the lower conveyor. The vibratory motion aids inincreasing the speed of travel of the cans over the inclined plate.

In a second form of the invention, a pair of accumulator tables arelocated on either side of a single conveyor. Each of the accumulatortables includes an inclined plate which slopes upwardly from theconveyor. Ifa blockage occurs downstream of the accumulator tables, thecans or other articles will accumulate on both of the inclined plates,and when the blockage is cured, the cans will move downwardly by gravityacross the inclined plates and return to the conveyor. As in the case ofthe first embodiment, a vibrating mechanism can be associated with eachof the accumulator tables to increase the speed oftravel of the cansacross the surface ofthe table.

The accumulator table of the invention is substantially less costly thanconventional types, such as a walking beam type of accumulator table.The present accumulator table is of simple construction, having fewmoving parts and thus the initial cost of installation, as well asmaintenance, is substantially reduced.

The accumulator table of the invention provides improved accumulatingcharacteristics and is less likely to cause physical damage to thecontainers than conventional accumulators. As a further advantage, thearea of accumulation can be infinitely large without any adverse affecton the overall performance of the conveyor system.

As the accumulator table is elongated in shape, with its long dimensionbeing generally parallel to the path of travel of the articles on theconveyor, the accumulated cans can be returned to the conveyor in asubstantially shorter period of time than with accumulator tables ofgenerally square shape.

Furthermore, the accumulator table can be changed in length and width toaccommodate the particular conveying system with which it is beingutilized.

By covering the inclined table surface with a plastic sheet, not only isthe noise level substantially reduced over conventional systemsemploying'metal accumulator tables,but the plastic sheet has a lowercoefficient of friction than metal and this improves the speed ofaccumulation and recovery, as well as eliminating any possibility ofgalling between the cans and the accumulator surface, as will occur witha metal accumulator table.

Other objects and advantages will appear in the course of the followingdescription.

The drawings illustrate the best mode presently contemplated of carryingout the invention.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a plan view of a conveying system incorporating theaccumulator table of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a transverse section taken along lines 22 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged transverse section showing the construction of theaccumulator table to the leaf spring;

FIG. 4 is a plan view of a modified form of the invention in which apair of accumulator tables are associated with a single conveyor.

FIG. 5 is a side elevation of the structure shown in FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is an enlarged fragmentary side elevation showing the attachmentof the accumulator table to the conveyor frame; and

FIG. 7 is an enlarged section taken along line 7-7 of FIG. 6.

FIGS. l-3 illustrate a conveyor system for conveying articles such ascans or bottles. The conveyor system includes a pair of generallyparallel conveyors 1 and 2 with the conveying surface of conveyor 2being located at a lower level than that of conveyor 1. Extendingbetween the conveyors l and 2 is an accumulator table 3, and a pair ofguide rails 4 and 5 extend along the conveyor 1, across the accumulatortable 3 and along the length of the conveyor 2. The guide rails 4 and 5define the path of travel of the articles 6 moving along the conveyingsystem. Each of the guide rails 4 and 5 is supported by a series ofbrackets 7 which extend upwardly from the conveyors 1 and 2 and theaccumulator table 3, respectively.

Each conveyor 1 and 2 includes an endless link chain 8 which is drivenin an endless path by conventional drive sprockets, not shown, that arelocated at the ends of the path of travel of the chain. The side edgesof the chain 8 are supported in travel by guides 9 mounted on the sidemembers of the frame 10 of the conveyor. Frame 10, in turn, is supportedby a series of vertical columns 11 which rest on the foundation or othersupporting structure.

The accumulator table 3, which extends between the conveyors l and 2,includes an inclined or sloping plate 12, and a plastic sheet 13, formedof a material such as high density polyethylene, is secured to the uppersurface of plate 12 and is coextensive with the plate. The plate 12 andplastic sheet 13 are located at an angle of about 3 to 8 with respect tothe horizontal and provide a path of travel for the containers 6 fromthe upper conveyor 1 to the lower conveyor 2.

The supporting structure for plate 12 includes a pair of side angles 14,and bolts 15 connect the vertical flange of angle 14 to the upper endsof a series of leaf springs 16, which are located in spaced relationalong the length of the table. The lower end of each leaf spring 16 isconnected by bolts 17 to an angle 18 of the generally rectangular frame19 that carries the accumulator table 3. As best illustrated in FIG. 2,the frame 19 is connected to the vertical columns 11 by brackets 20 andcan be adjusted vertically on the columns 11 to vary the elevation ofthe accumulator table with respect to the conveyors l and 2.

Extending outwardly from each side edge of the plate 12 is anangle-shaped extension 21 and the upper surface of extension 21 iscovered with a sheet of plastic 22 similar to plastic sheet 13. Theextension 21 is disposed at an angle of less than 3 with respect to thevertical and serves to bridge the gap between the side edges ofconveyors l and 2 and the inclined plate 12. The vertical flange 23 ofthe extension 21 is connected to the vertical flange of the side angle14 by a series of bolts 24. Depending on the size and shape of thecontainers, an abrupt change in angularity from the conveyor 1 to theaccumulator table 3, and from the accumulator table to the conveyor 2,may cause tilting or tipping of the containers. Thus, the extension 21provides a more gradual change of angularity between the conveyors andthe accumulator table and minimizes the possibility of tipping of thecontainers.

While the conveyors l and 2 are shown with a width to accommodate asingle row of cans or containers 6, it is contemplated that theconveyors can have any desired width to accommodate any desired numberof rows of containers. During normal operation of the conveying system,the containers 6 will be conveyed along conveyor 1 in the direction ofthe arrow and will be guided across the end of the table 3 by the guiderail 4 to the conveyor 2, as illustrated in FIG. 1. In this normalconveying pattern, the table 3 functions as an integral part of theconveying system. The pressure exerted by the containers 6 moving onconveyor 1 in combination with the downwardly sloping attitude of plate12, enables the containers to move smoothly across the table 3 toconveyor 2. In the event a blockage occurs in the conveying system,downstream of the accumulator table 3, the containers will back up onthe conveyor 2 and accumulate on the accumulator table 3, as shown bythe containers in phantom in FIG. 1. The accumulator table can beconstructed with any desired length and width and will normally have asurface area large enough to accommodate an accumulation of cansoccurring during a normal blockage of the conveying system. After theblockage has been cured and the conveyor 2 can again convey thecontainers 6 downstream, the containers which have accumulated on thetable 3 will slide by gravity downwardly along the inclined tablesurface 12 to the conveyor 2 and will be conveyed by the conveyor 2 tothe packaging machine or other downstream work station. In a brewery,the packaging machine normally has the capability of operating to 15percent faster than the filling machine, so that the increased speed ofthe packaging machine can remove the accumulation of containers 6 on thetable 3 to restore the normal path of travel of the containers, as shownby the containers in solid line in FIG. 1.

A provision is made in the invention to provide the plate 12 with anoscillating type of reciprocating motion in a direction from theconveyor 1 to the conveyor 2 to thereby increase the speed of travelofthe containers over the surface of the plastic sheet 13. The vibratingmechanism includes a series of vibrating units 25 which are attached tocross members 26. Cross members 26 extend between angles 14 and aresecured to the lower surface of plate 12. Each vibrating unit 25includes a body 27 and two pair of forked legs 28. The vertical flangeof the angle 26 is secured between the forked legs by bolts. Thevibrating units 25 can be of any conventional construction and in thetype illustrated, a metal ball is rotated in an eccentric path withinthe body by gas pressure, causing the plate 12 to move in an oscillatingor reciprocating path in a direction between the conveyors 1 and 2. Theleaf springs 16 provide a flexible support for the plate 12, permittingthe table to oscillate with this type of motion. A gas under pressure,such as air, is supplied and returned from the body 28 through lines 29.

It is not necessary in all instances to employ the vibrating units 25,but depending on the size and shape of the containers, as well as thespeed of the conveyor system, the vibrating effect can be advantageousin increasing the speed of travel of the containers across theaccumulator table. As a measure of economy, a provision is made tooperate only the vibrating unit 25a during normal operation of theconveying system. In the event the containers accumulate on the table 3,the other vibrating units can be successively actuated as theaccumulation of containers reaches the operating area of each vibratingunit. Thus, the operation of each of the vibrating units 25 isindependently controlled by a microswitch 30 which is mounted through abracket 31 on the guide rail 5. If the containers accumulate on table 3to a location in the vicinity of the vibrating unit 250, t themicroswitch 30a will be actuated by the pressure of the accumulatedcontainers to thereby operate the vibrating unit 25a. Similarly, as theaccumulation of containers continues, the accumulated containers willactuate switch 30b to thereby operate the vibrating unit 25b. Thisaction will continue throughout the entire length of the accumulatortable and provides an economy of operation in that only vibrating unitsin the vicinity of accumulated containers will be operated.

The accumulator table of the invention is substantially less costly thanconventional types, such as walking beam conveyors. The accumulatortable has a minimum of moving parts which not only reduces the initialcost of the unit, but also substantially reduces maintenance costs. Thearea of. accumulation can be varied as desired by merely increasing thelength of the accumulator table and this can be done without any adverseaffect on the performance of the conveyors l and 2. As the accumulatortable has an elongated shape, with the long dimension of the accumulatorbeing parallel to the paths of travel on conveyors 1 and 2, it providesa better recovery of containers into the conveying system after theblockage has ceased. This is a substantial advantage over accumulatortables which have a generally square shape in which case the containerscannot be returned to the conveying line as rapidly after the blockagehas been cured.

The plastic sheet 13 provides definite advantages over a metalaccumulator table. Not only does the use of the plastic sheet provide asubstantial noise reduction, but due to the fact that the plastic has alower coefficient of friction than metal, the cans can move more freelyover the surface of the accumulator table. The use of the plasticsurface also prevents any possibility of galling between metal cans anda metal conveyor surface. As a further advantage, the plastic sheet 13provides a less costly installation, because the plastic sheet can beapplied over a carbon steel base, while the conventional metalaccumulator table is fabricated from stainless steel.

FIGS. 4-7 illustrate a modified form of the invention which includes asingle endless conveyor 32, and a pair of accumulator tables 33 and 34are located on either side of the conveyor 32. The conveyor 32 comprisesa frame 35 that rests on the foundation, and the upper portion of theframe is provided with a pair of side members 36 which support the sideedges of an endless link chain 37, similar to chain 8, of the conveyorsl and 2. As shown in FIG. 5, the conveyor 32 and the accumulator tables33 and 34 are inclined downwardly in the direction of travel of theconveyor. As best illustrated in FIG. 6, an angle 38 is secured to eachside member 36 by bolt 39 and a plastic strip 40 is mounted on the uppersurface of the angle 38. The upper surface of strip 40 is substantiallyflush with the upper surface of the conveyor chain 37.

Each of the accumulator tables 33 and 34 includes an inclined plate 41which is carried by generally rectangular frame 42. The upper surface ofplate 41 is covered with a plastic sheet 43, similar to the plasticsheet 13 of the first embodiment. As in the case of the firstembodiment, the plate 41 is disposed at an angle of about 3 to 8 withrespect to the conveyor chain 37 as shownin FIG. 6 and the upper flangeof angle 38 can be inclined at a lesser angle, up to 3, to provide amore gradual change in angularity from chain 37 to plate 41.

The accumulator tables 33 and 34 are supported from the conveyor frame35 by a plurality of beams 44 which extend outwardly from either side offrame 35. Leaf springs 45, similar in structure and function to leafsprings 16, are connected between the beams 44 and bars 46 attached totable frame 42. The leaf springs 45 provide a flexible connectionbetween each of the inclined plates 41 and the supporting structure sothat the plates 41 can be oscillated in a direction parallel to the pathof travel of the containers on the conveyor 32.

To vibrate or oscillate the plates 41, a series of vibrator units 47,similar to vibrator units 25 of the first embodiment, are secured tolongitudinal frame members 48 of frame 42.

The vibrator units 47 operates similar to that previously described withrespect to vibrator units 25 and serve to move the plates 41 in areciprocating path of movement in the direction of the arrows, as shownin FIG. 4.

Guides 49 are mounted on the conveyor frame 35 through brackets 50 andextend along the side edges of the conveyor 32. In addition, guides 51are mountedon the table frame 42 through brackets 52 and serve toconfine the accumulated cans or containers on the tables 33 and 34. Theportions of the guides 51 at the downstream ends of the tables 33 and34, indicated by 53, are located at an acute angle to thelongitudinalaxis of the conveyor 32 and serve to deflect accumulated containers backtoward the conveyor.

During normal operation of the conveying system, the containers willmove along the conveyor 32 and will not move onto the accumulator tables33 and 34. In the event of a blockage down stream, the containers willback up and move upwardly on the inclined plates 41 on both of theaccumulator" tables 33 and 34. The action of the vibrating units 47,which can be operated either in unison or in sequence, will aid inmovement of the containers on the plates 41. After the blockage has beencured, and the containers will again move along the conveyor 32, theincreasedspeed of operation of the packaging machine will enable theaccumulated containers on tables 33 and 34 to move back into the line onconveyor 32 to remove the accumulation.

lclaim:

1. in a conveying system, conveyor means having a conveying memberoperating in a given plane to convey a plurality of articles, and anaccumulator member having means for disposing said member laterally ofthe conveyor member and having a generally flat accumulating surfacedisposed at an acute angle in the range of 3 to 8 with respect to saidplane, said accumulating surface having an edge located adjacent to aside edge of the conveyor member whereby the articles can pass freelyfrom the conveyor member to the accumulating surface, means for mountingsaid conveyor member and said accumulating surface at a downwardlyinclined angle in the direction of travel of said conveyor member, guidemeans located adjacent the lower downstream end of the accumulatorsurface and extending laterally outward in an upstream direction and atan acute angle with respect to the side edge of the conveyor member,said accumulating surface receiving an accumulation of said articles inthe event of a blockage in the conveying system downstream of saidaccumulator member, and the accumulated articles moving downwardly bygravity on said surface and returning in a diagonal direction to saidconveying member when said blockage is cured.

2. The conveying system of claim 1, in which the accumulating surface isformed of plastic.

3. The conveying system of claim 1, and including drive means for movingthe accumulating surface in an oscillating path of movement to therebyincrease the speed of travel of the articles on said accumulatingsurface.

4. The conveyor system of claim 3, wherein said drive means is arrangedto move said accumulating surface in a direction generally parallel tothe direction of movement of said conveying member.

5. The conveying system of claim 3, wherein said drive means comprises aseries of vibrating units located in spaced relation along the length ofthe accumulating surface with each vibrating unit operable to oscillatesaid accumulating surface.

6. The conveying system of claim 5, and including operating means forindependently operating each vibrating unit when the containersaccumulate on said surface to a position in the operating zone of eachvibrating unit. I

7. The conveying system of claim 6, wherein the operating means isresponsive to the pressure of the accumulated containers.

8. The conveying system of claim l,'and including an intermediate memberdisposed between the side edge of said conveying member and the adjacentedge of said accumulating surface, said intermediate member beingdisposed at an acute angle of less than 3 with respect to said plane.

9. The conveying system of claim 8, wherein said intermediate member isplastic. i

10. The conveying system of claim 1, including a second accumulatormember having means for disposing said second accumulator memberlaterally of the conveyor member on the opposite side of said conveyormember from-said first accumulator member, said second accumulatormember having a generally flat second accumulating surface disposed atan acute angle in the range of 3 to 8 with respect to said plane andsaid second accumulating surface having an edge located adjacent to aside edge of the conveyor member whereby articles can pass freely fromthe conveyor member to the second accumulating surface of said secondaccumulating member, and means for mounting said second accumulatingsurface at 7 said downwardly inclined angle.

11. In a conveying system, first conveyor means to convey a plurality ofarticles and having a first conveying surface disposed in a first plane,second conveyor means to convey said articles and located in spacedrelation to said first conveyor means, said second conveyor meansincluding a second conveying surface disposed in a second plane parallelto the first plane and at a lower level than said first plane, and anaccumulator member extending between said first conveying surface andsecond conveying surface, said accumulator member being generally flatand disposed at an angle of 3 to 8 with respect to said planes andhaving a pair of opposed edges, one of said edges being located adjacentto and at approximately the same level as a side edge of the firstconveying surface and a second of said edges being located adjacent toand at approximately the same level as the side edge of the secondconveying surface whereby the articles can pass freely from the firstconveying surface downwardly across the accumulator member to saidsecond conveying surface, said accumulator member is elongated and thelength of said accumulator member is parallel to said conveying surface.

12. The conveying system of claim 11, and including an intermediatemember located between the side edge of each conveying surface and theadjacent edge of said accumulator member, each of said intermediatemembers being located at an acute angle up to 3 with respect to saidplanes.

13. The conveying system of claim 1 1, and including a sheet of plasticmaterial disposed on said accumulating member and being substantiallycoextensive therewith.

14. The conveying system of claim 11, and including guide means forguiding said articles in a path of travel from said first conveyor meansacross said accumulator member to said second conveyor means.

15. The conveying system of claim 1 l, and including vibrating means forvibrating said accumulator member to thereby increase the speed oftravel of said articles over said member.

16. The conveying system of claim 15, wherein said vibrating means isarranged to move the accumulator member in a reciprocating path oftravel in a direction from the first conveyor means to the secondconveyor means.

1. In a conveying system, conveyor means having a conveying memberoperating in a given plane to convey a plurality of articles, and anaccumulator member having means for disposing said member laterally ofthe conveyor member and having a generally flat accumulating surfacedisposed at an acute angle in the range of 3* to 8* with respect to saidplane, said accumulating surface having an edge located adjacent to aside edge of the conveyor member whereby the articles can pass freelyfrom the conveyor member to the accumulating surface, means for mountingsaid conveyor member and said accumulating surface at a downwardlyinclined angle in the direction of travel of said conveyor member, guidemeans located adjacent the lower downstream end of the accumulatorsurface and extending laterally outward in an upstream direction and atan acute angle with respect to the side edge of the conveyor member,said accumulating surface receiving an accumulation of said articles inthe event of a blockage in the conveying system downstream of saidaccumulator member, and the accumulated articles moving downwardly bygravity on said surface and returning in a diagonal direction to saidconveying member when said blockage is cured.
 2. The conveying system ofclaim 1, in which the accumulating surface is formed of plastic.
 3. Theconveying system of claim 1, and including drive means for moving theaccumulating surface in an oscillating path of movement to therebyincrease the speed of travel of the articles on said accumulatingsurface.
 4. The conveyor system of claim 3, wherein said drive means isarranged to move said accumulating surface in a direction generallyparallel to the direction of movement of said conveying member.
 5. Theconveying system of claim 3, wherein said drive means comprises a seriesof vibrating units located in spaced relation along the length of theaccumulating surface with each vibrating unit operable to oscillate saidaccumulating surface.
 6. The conveying system of claim 5, and includingoperating means for independently operating each vibrating unit when thecontainers accumulate on said surface to a position in the operatingzone of each vibrating unit.
 7. The conveying system of claim 6, whereinthe operating means is responsive to the pressure of the accumulatedcontainers.
 8. The conveying system of claim 1, and including anintermediate member disposed between the side edge of said conveyingmember and the adjacent edge of said accumulating surface, saidintermediate member being disposed at an acute angle of less than 3*with respect to said plane.
 9. The conveying system of claim 8, whereinsaid intermediate member is plastic.
 10. The conveying system of claim1, including a second accumulator member having means for disposing saidsecond accumulator member laterally of the conveyor member on theopposite side of said conveyor member from said first accumulatormember, said second accumulator member having a generally flat secondaccumulating surface disposed at an acute angle in the range of 3* to 8*with respect to said plane and said second accumulating surface havingan edge located adjacent to a side edge of the conveyor member wherebyarticles can pass freely from the conveyor member to the secondaccumulating surface of said second accumulating member, and means formounting said second accumulating surface at said downwardly inclinedangle.
 11. In a conveying system, first conveyor means to convey aplurality of articles and having a first conveying surface disposed in afirst plane, second conveyor means to convey said articles and locatedin spaced relation to said first conveyor means, said second conveyormeans including a second conveying surface disposed in a second planeparallel to the first plane and at a lower level than said first plane,and an accumulator member extending between said first conveying surfaceand second conveying surface, said accumulator member being generallyflat and disposed at an angle of 3* to 8* with respect to said planesand having a pair of opposed edges, one of said edges being locatedaDjacent to and at approximately the same level as a side edge of thefirst conveying surface and a second of said edges being locatedadjacent to and at approximately the same level as the side edge of thesecond conveying surface whereby the articles can pass freely from thefirst conveying surface downwardly across the accumulator member to saidsecond conveying surface, said accumulator member is elongated and thelength of said accumulator member is parallel to said conveying surface.12. The conveying system of claim 11, and including an intermediatemember located between the side edge of each conveying surface and theadjacent edge of said accumulator member, each of said intermediatemembers being located at an acute angle up to 3* with respect to saidplanes.
 13. The conveying system of claim 11, and including a sheet ofplastic material disposed on said accumulating member and beingsubstantially coextensive therewith.
 14. The conveying system of claim11, and including guide means for guiding said articles in a path oftravel from said first conveyor means across said accumulator member tosaid second conveyor means.
 15. The conveying system of claim 11, andincluding vibrating means for vibrating said accumulator member tothereby increase the speed of travel of said articles over said member.16. The conveying system of claim 15, wherein said vibrating means isarranged to move the accumulator member in a reciprocating path oftravel in a direction from the first conveyor means to the secondconveyor means.